Why 1 is called one.....

Is all number work Math??

We start with learning to identify numbers then count, then add, and subtract, multiply , divide & this goes on to include time, algebra, geometry, factors , area, volume and then trigonometry & quadratics & algorithm....the list seems to just go on....

Aristotle defined mathematics as "the science of quantity", and this definition prevailed until the 18th century....and then many variables & abstracts became part of maths.

Another definition I came across was "The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of  quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols."

And another one was "the systematic treatment of magnitude, relationships between figures and forms, and relations between quantities expressed symbolically."

Am yet to find a satisfactory yet simple definition.  Any one helping????All suggestions & comments welcome.

Application for math

It is very important to be able to see the applicability of Math concepts.

Addition , multiplication & time, kids get that in primary school.

Commercial maths , with %ages and discounts etc they get quite easily as they get to middle school and visit super markets & various sales etc.

Angles, area & volume are also easy to relate with in day to day life with sun ray reflections , juice cartons, room and carpet sizes etc

Statistical terms also possible to relate to class average age , height range in gym class, median or mode speed at swim class.

But I am yet to figure out the case for Quadratic equations!!!!  Please help.....

Math in a health book

Have you seen a health book or a child health record card? ( am referring to the Singapore one)

Apart from the details of immunisation shots given it has data in terms of weight & height compared to national average.

Can you see the application of data and national health statistics here???  Such identifications of math & stats applications help appreciate & respect the subject.

Cookie Math

A couple of years ago I had conducted a cookie math class at my home for a bunch of kids aged 7 to 9 years, in my social network.

I made chocolate chop cookie dough and then we played with it at the table. We did fractions and additions and subtractions and multiplications etc . We compared size & weight. All with little cookie dough balls.

And while the cookies baked we revised the same stuff on few sheets of paper.

And completed the session eating the cookies!!!!!

Maths in Kitchen : Storing, cooking & baking....

Measurements are very critical part of all forms of cooking & extremely important in baking.

Here is a joke, once an amateur baker wanted to double the recipe & he doubled everything & ended up in a disaster coz he doubled the oven temperature and the time to bake!!!!! Can you imagine that !!!

Well in exotic ingredients one has to decide to buy expensive small packings versus buying a relatively cheaper large packing .....if we are not sure about using the balance amounts...Price per 10 grams or probability of future use or minimising loss. Whatever the strategy to decide, Math helps....

In arranging a cupboard or a refrigerator we all know rectangular stackable containers are best....does that remind you of volume ????

The kitchen demonstrates the measurement topics and ratios as well as volume apart from many scientific topics.